Gardaí have arrested a man in connection with the murder of Limerick man Martin Clancy.

The body of Mr Clancy (40), who was originally from Moyross, was found by a young female relative, stabbed to death in his flat at Little O'Curry Street in the city last Sunday.

Gardaí arrested a man in Cork city around 8pm last night on suspicion of carrying out the murder.

The suspect is aged in his mid-20s and is from Limerick, sources confirmed.

He was last night being detained at Roxboro Road Garda Station in Limerick under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

Gardaí were earlier yesterday granted a further 48 hours in which to designate Mr Clancy's flat a crime scene.

Investigators are using the services of an expert forensic scientist in the hope of finding DNA belonging to Mr Clancy's killer.

The DNA expert, who is attached to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) - an associate office of the Department of Justice and Equality - arrived at Mr Clancy's flat on Tuesday.

The FSI officer is conducting a full sweep of the property as gardaí continue to conduct house-to-house enquiries in the local community.

Daniel Nedelcu, a neighbour of Mr Clancy's, told reporters earlier this week how he entered Mr Clancy's flat unaware he had been killed, and said he saw what he believed to be blood on a floor and on walls inside the flat.

Mr Nedelcu, a Romanian national who has worked as an interpreter in Limerick, said he then left Mr Clancy's flat after feeding the victim's pet dog.

Superintendent Derek Smart, who is leading the murder probe, appealed for anyone who has information about the murder to contact gardaí at Henry Street Garda Station (061-212400), or the Garda Confidential Line (1800-666-111).